[Kamepherype]

Monday December 27, 2010

Two guesthouses razed by fire

By MANJIT KAUR and ZALINAH NOORDIN
north@thestar.com.my

GEORGE TOWN: A guesthouse owner’s loud screams managed to alert his neighbours when a fire broke out at Kampung Bayu Senja in Batu Ferringhi.

Ashok Kumar, 61, who owns Shalini’s Guest House, said his brother-in-law Lim Hock Cheng saw smoke billowing from the back door of his neighbour’s house.



All that’s left: Firemen putting out the fire that destroyed two guesthouses and four homes in Batu Ferringhi on Saturday.

Ashok rushed to the house next door thinking there were people trapped inside.

“But no one was in. I then screamed for help as the flames were spreading like wildfire.

“Luckily, the occupants from the surrounding houses managed to flee in time,” he said at the site on Saturday.

The fire, which started at 11.40am, gutted four wooden houses and two guesthouses.

Two people sustained minor injuries while helping the victims.

Ali Guest House, which has been operating for the past 35 years, was razed to the ground.

One of the owners Zuhana Muhd Ali, 46, said this was the second fire at the guesthouse.

“A small fire in 1987 damaged the place.

“We feel sad as this guesthouse was set up by my late father.

“We have 18 rooms which were fully occupied but luckily most of the guests were not in,” she added.

Lok Poh Giok, 52, was getting ready to go to work at the Ferringhi Garden restaurant nearby when the fire happened.

“I am sad I could not even save the photograph of my late husband,” said Lok, who is a chef at the restaurant.

Bukit Bendera Barisan Nasional coordinator H’ng Chee Wey, who visited the scene, said each household would receive RM500 aid from the Federal Government and another RM500 from the Community Welfare and Development Council (Mayang).

State Fire and Rescue Department deputy director (operations) Mohd Razam Taja Rahim said six fire engines comprising 37 personnel from the Jalan Perak, Bagan Jermal and Teluk Bahang fire stations rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call at 11.50am.

Meanwhile, the 30-odd guests affected by the fire have been transferred to nearby motels and service apartments.